Disclaimer
This project is aware of the limitations of homogenising language like ‘people of colour’, ‘BME’, ‘BAME’, and ‘BIPOC’. The phrase ‘non-white’ is problematic in itself as it suggests that certain ethnic groups are defined by their lack of whiteness. The purpose of writing ‘non-white’ history, however, is to counteract the biased and astoundingly white history that is taught in primary and secondary schools and sixth form colleges in the UK and elsewhere.
Non-white people are not a unified group and their experiences, cultures, and histories are incredibly diverse to the extent that it would be far from possible to do them all justice within the confines of this project. This project does not claim to speak on behalf of any of the people that are represented or to suggest that the histories of any group that are not covered here are not important.
What this project aims to offer is a free-access educational resource that promotes adult learning of non-white and non-Western histories. At the end of every article is a resource list that includes the work of scholars (including scholars of colour where possible) who are experts in their respective fields and whose works we highly recommend you consult for further information.
- Carissa & Annie
This project is aware of the limitations of homogenising language like ‘people of colour’, ‘BME’, ‘BAME’, and ‘BIPOC’. The phrase ‘non-white’ is problematic in itself as it suggests that certain ethnic groups are defined by their lack of whiteness. The purpose of writing ‘non-white’ history, however, is to counteract the biased and astoundingly white history that is taught in primary and secondary schools and sixth form colleges in the UK and elsewhere.
Non-white people are not a unified group and their experiences, cultures, and histories are incredibly diverse to the extent that it would be far from possible to do them all justice within the confines of this project. This project does not claim to speak on behalf of any of the people that are represented or to suggest that the histories of any group that are not covered here are not important.
What this project aims to offer is a free-access educational resource that promotes adult learning of non-white and non-Western histories. At the end of every article is a resource list that includes the work of scholars (including scholars of colour where possible) who are experts in their respective fields and whose works we highly recommend you consult for further information.
- Carissa & Annie
How to
take
action against racism today
take
action against racism today
︎︎︎USE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO TEACH YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT RACE ISSUES
︎︎︎SELF-EXAMINE YOUR OWN INTERNALISED RACIST IDEOLOGIES AND START UNLEARNING THEM
︎︎︎HAVE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHO HOLD RACIST VIEWS
︎︎︎AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF BAME PEOPLE
︎︎︎DONATE MONEY TO ANTI-RACISM CHARITIES (OR WATCH MONETISED YOUTUBE VIDEOS THAT DO)
︎︎︎SIGN PETITIONS
︎︎︎SUPPORT BAME-OWNED BUSINESSES
︎︎︎ SPEAK OUT WHEN YOU
WITNESS RACISM AND MAKE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT I.E. FOLLOW COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES IN THE WORKPLACE, REPORT RACIAL ABUSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN YOU SEE IT, MAKE COMPLAINTS AGAINST RACIST BROADCASTS
︎︎︎SUPPORT ANTI-RACISM SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS (YOUR ‘LIKES’ AND ‘SHARES’ WILL HELP POSTS REACH A BIGGER AUDIENCE)
︎︎︎JOIN PEACEFUL PROTESTS
︎︎︎WRITE TO POLITICIANS TO PRESSURE THEM TO ADDRESS POLITICAL ISSUES RELATING TO RACE INEQUALITY
︎︎︎CIRCULATE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AMONG FRIENDS/FAMILY AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Who to support
↘
THE BLACK CURRICULUM UK
↘
YOUNG HISTORIANS PROJECT
↘
REFUGEE ACTION UK
↘
BLACK LIVES MATTER USA
↘
KANSAS CITY G.I.F.T.
↘
BLACK LIVES MATTER UK
↘
STAND UP TO RACISM UK
↘
BLACK MINDS MATTER UK
↘
RACE EQUALITY FIRST
↘
COLOURS YOUTH NETWORK
↘
STOP HATE UK
↘
SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD UK
Useful links
↘ ANTI-RACISM READING LIST
↘
SHOPBLACK.UK
↘
PRACTICAL WAYS TO SUPPORT BLM FROM THE UK
↘ CHANGE.ORG PETITIONS
↘ UK GOVERNMENT PETITIONS
↘ FREE ANTI-RACISM TEXTS GOOGLE DRIVE
↘
GUIDE TO ALLYSHIP
↘
A PARENT’S GUIDE TO BLM
↘SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES USA
↘
BLACK MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
↘
INEQUALITY IN UK
STOP AND SEARCH
How to
take
action against racism today
take
action against racism today
︎︎︎USE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO TEACH YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT RACE ISSUES
︎︎︎SELF-EXAMINE YOUR OWN INTERNALISED RACIST IDEOLOGIES AND START UNLEARNING THEM
︎︎︎HAVE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHO HOLD RACIST VIEWS
︎︎︎AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF BAME PEOPLE
︎︎︎DONATE MONEY TO ANTI-RACISM CHARITIES (OR WATCH MONETISED YOUTUBE VIDEOS THAT DO)
︎︎︎SIGN PETITIONS
︎︎︎SUPPORT BAME-OWNED BUSINESSES
︎︎︎ SPEAK OUT WHEN YOU
WITNESS RACISM AND MAKE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT I.E. FOLLOW COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES IN THE WORKPLACE, REPORT RACIAL ABUSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN YOU SEE IT, MAKE COMPLAINTS AGAINST RACIST BROADCASTS
︎︎︎SUPPORT ANTI-RACISM SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS (YOUR ‘LIKES’ AND ‘SHARES’ WILL HELP POSTS REACH A BIGGER AUDIENCE)
︎︎︎JOIN PEACEFUL PROTESTS
︎︎︎WRITE TO POLITICIANS TO PRESSURE THEM TO ADDRESS POLITICAL ISSUES RELATING TO RACE INEQUALITY
︎︎︎CIRCULATE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AMONG FRIENDS/FAMILY AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA
About the
author
Carissa is a History PhD student and teaching assistant at the Univeristy of Hawai’i at Manoa. Her research seeks to recover the experiences of belonging and exclusion felt by people of mixed African and South Asian heritage in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda 1940-1970, who are known locally as “chotara”.
From September 2020 to June 2021, Carissa undertook
an equalities, diversity and inclusion internship at the National Library of Scotland, where she engaged in policy work and reviewed the institution’s descriptive practices relating to protected characteristics. She founded the Cultural Heritage Terminology Network and initiated a collaborative terminology glossary project that offers guidance for cultural heritage professionals on how to address harmful and discriminatory language.
Carissa completed her MPhil in World History at the University of Cambridge in July 2020 after graduating with a First Class MA with Honours in English Literature & History from the University of Edinburgh. In 2019, her prize-winning student essay ‘The Ant as Metaphor: Orientalism, Imperialism and Myrmecology’ was published in the Archives of Natural History .
About the
illustrator
Since graduating with a First Class BA with Honours in Illustration from The University of Edinburgh, Annie has worked for NGO Green Sail who promote sustainable nautical practices and policies. She currently works for online craft beer retailer, Flavourly.
Annie’s illustration practice is greatly influenced by her Scottish location, drawing inspiration from the abundance of nature and the idiosyncratic heritage of Edinburgh.
Annie’s personal work explores historical narratives, with special focus on illustrating the undervalued stories of remarkable women throughout history.
Annie is interested in addressing gender and race inequality within the illustration industry and the lack of diversity and representation in children’s literature especially.
Contact Annie for freelance commissions annieadam.graphics@gmail.com
About the author
Carissa Chew is a British-born woman of mixed Bengali and English heritage who is passionate about incorporating diversity and inclusion in school curriculums and making non-white histories accessible to the general public.
Carissa completed her MPhil in World History at the University of Cambridge in July 2020 after graduating with a First Class MA with Honours in English Literature & History from the University of Edinburgh in July 2019. Carissa’s specialism relates to the history of people of mixed black African and South Asian heritage in twentieth century Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, a topic that she hopes to explore further through oral history when she begins her History PhD in August 2021.
Carissa has recently taken up an equalities, inclusion, and diversity internship at the National Library of Scotland, where she is involved in reviewing the Library’s descriptive practices relating to offensive language and cultural sensitivities. She is currently learning Kiswahili and volunteers for Cambridge Development Initiative, a sustainable education project based in Dar es Salaam. Carissa received several academic awards as an undergraduate and her article ‘The Ant as Metaphor: Orientalism, Imperialism and Myrmecology’ is published in the peer-reviewed journal Archives of Natural History .
About the illustrator
Annie Adam is an Edinburgh based illustrator and designer, passionate about instigating equality through education. Since graduating with a First Class BA with Honours in Illustration from The University of Edinburgh, Annie has worked for NGO Green Sail who promote sustainable nautical practices and policies. She currently works for online craft beer retailer, Flavourly.
Annie’s illustration practice is greatly influenced by her Scottish location, drawing inspiration from the abundance of nature and the idiosyncratic heritage of Edinburgh. Annie’s personal work explores historical narratives, with special focus on illustrating the undervalued stories of remarkable women throughout history.
Annie is interested in addressing gender and race inequality within the illustration industry and the lack of diversity and representation in children’s literature especially. Whilst some of Annie’s previous work has dealt with the intersection of race, nationality, socioeconomic factors and gender, she wants to further explore themes of colonialism and non-white histories as part of Histories of Colour.
Contact Annie for freelance commissions annieadam.graphics@gmail.com